Your Jobs Of Work In Manchester

[fredthomas]

reading of the discussion about the box works, the one refered to was Stevensons which was on Pollard street, because i worked there for many years, eventually moving to their new factory in Levenshulme, in all I worked for them for twenty three years ,Happy days, comments invited. Fred

[Lisa]

That name rings a bell Fred....Stevensons Box Works....I think a lot of people from Clayton worked there at one time or another.....used to pass it on the 215 bus on my way to work every morning and often saw people pouring out at clock-off time.

Nov 5, 2010 14:00:03 GMT -1 fredthomas said:

reading of the discussion about the box works, the one refered to was Stevensons which was on Pollard street, because i worked there for many years, eventually moving to their new factory in Levenshulme, in all I worked for them for twenty three years ,Happy days, comments invited. Fred

[cabbyjohn]

I seem to remember that Frank (Foo Foo) Lamar worked for a number of years At Stevensons boxworks. If I'm not mistaken I think he was a supervisor/foreman there.

[jnealedroylsden]

if I'm not mistaken wasn't Stevensons box works in the small part of Pollard street not the main drag from ancoats lane? think it was Pollard st south or something like that, I know people would walk down to Ashton New rd nr the Don Cinema (that's going bk some ) to get the bus

[OLLY]

THERES APIC OF STEVIES WORKS ON THE M/C LIBRARIES SITE..... .....I USED TO GO THRU ALL THEM WORKS ON POLLARD ST WHEN A WORKED ......

[Lisa]

Jean I thought Stevensons Box Works was the last factory on the right hand side of Pollard Street on the way to town...almost on the corner and you could see the wrought iron steps to the factory. Often, you would see the workers piling out onto the courtyard either for their break or after clocking out. They would all try to get on the bus in Pollard Street. I may be wrong because my memory is very obscure in some parts and very lucid in others....I think its called 'old age'!!!! ;D

[jnealedroylsden]

Nov 9, 2010 16:51:06 GMT -1 Lisa said:

Jean I thought Stevensons Box Works was the last factory on the right hand side of Pollard Street on the way to town...almost on the corner and you could see the wrought iron steps to the factory. Often, you would see the workers piling out onto the courtyard either for their break or after clocking out. They would all try to get on the bus in Pollard Street. I may be wrong because my memory is very obscure in some parts and very lucid in others....I think its called 'old age'!!!! ;D

don't know maybe I'm suffering from that thing (old age).........I could be wrong

[odtricia1]

Jan 8, 2007 20:07:59 GMT -1 Lisa said:

My first job was at Burlington Catalogues but it was boring so I went to Secretarial College and then worked as Secretary for a Jewish Raincoat company in Cheetham Hill. After working there for three years, I fancied a change and went to work in Spring Gardens in Manchester for Chadwicks of Oldham as a Receptionist, then onto Hyde as a Secretary for an engineering company(very boring), more receptionist work before defecting to London in 1966.

Hi Lisa, which Secretarial College did you go to, if you don't mind me asking? I went to Loreburn College in Spring Gardens, 1961-62. They wanted me to go to Teacher Training College in Bolton, but my parent's would not let me go - it was too far they said. I worked at J.A. Naylor & Sons Solicitors just off Albert Square and then went on to the Manchester Ship Canal Co.

[Lisa]

Hi Patricia, It was Burleigh Secretarial College in Princess Street. They taught Pitmans and book-keeping. I picked up most of what I know from doing temp work in London. The college taught me the basics of being a secretary but the rest is gaining experience. Some of the temps today call themselves 'secretaries' but they havent any idea of what a true secretary is. My daughter got a job in London as a PA but she hadnt been to secretarial college and used to ring me every day for advice on what to do.....even her colleagues, also PA's, used to ring me for advice. The difference these days is that secretaries are expected to have IT skills. The only thing I knew in those days about 'IT' was being an IT GIRL !!! ;D

Nov 14, 2010 17:05:14 GMT -1 odtricia1 said:

Jan 8, 2007 20:07:59 GMT -1 Lisa said:

My first job was at Burlington Catalogues but it was boring so I went to Secretarial College and then worked as Secretary for a Jewish Raincoat company in Cheetham Hill. After working there for three years, I fancied a change and went to work in Spring Gardens in Manchester for Chadwicks of Oldham as a Receptionist, then onto Hyde as a Secretary for an engineering company(very boring), more receptionist work before defecting to London in 1966.

Hi Lisa, which Secretarial College did you go to, if you don't mind me asking? I went to Loreburn College in Spring Gardens, 1961-62. They wanted me to go to Teacher Training College in Bolton, but my parent's would not let me go - it was too far they said. I worked at J.A. Naylor & Sons Solicitors just off Albert Square and then went on to the Manchester Ship Canal Co.

[june]

My mam worked at Stevensons box works Pollard st in the 60,s/70's

[odtricia1]

My last job in Manchester was as a Temp and worked for RollsRoyce or some other high class motor company/dealership in town. I also worked for a number of engineering companies in a Temp capacity, but I knew what being a Secretary was and still do all these years later. I worked here in Tipperary until three years ago, and had to leave for various reasons. I was on Reception and did Secretarial work for people who had businesses but no secretaries - gosh that needs thinking about doesn't it!! I was sorry to go but there was no other option and now that the country is bringing in the EU and IMF to bail us out tomorrow. Ireland seems to be going down the tubes I'm afraid.

[Lisa]

Hi Patricia, They dont call themselves 'secretaries' any more.....they are called PA's (Personal Assistants) and they havent got the first idea of what entails being a real secretary. At one time, you could only call yourself a secretary if you'd attended Secretarial College and got your certificates, otherwise you were known as a Copy Typist. I wish I earned the kind of money then that PA's can command now.

Nov 17, 2010 10:19:26 GMT -1 odtricia1 said:

My last job in Manchester was as a Temp and worked for RollsRoyce or some other high class motor company/dealership in town. I also worked for a number of engineering companies in a Temp capacity, but I knew what being a Secretary was and still do all these years later. I worked here in Tipperary until three years ago, and had to leave for various reasons. I was on Reception and did Secretarial work for people who had businesses but no secretaries - gosh that needs thinking about doesn't it!! I was sorry to go but there was no other option and now that the country is bringing in the EU and IMF to bail us out tomorrow. Ireland seems to be going down the tubes I'm afraid.

[tommy23796181]

HI lisa
Was the raincoat place quelranes

[jonesg]

Around 1966 I worked at the manchester eve news as a messenger boy in the editorial office. Before the internet blogs came along all the news was usually at least 2-3 days old by the time it got printed, unless there was something big like a plane crash.

Then a butchers apprentice at Robinsons, located at the corner of wilmslow and wilbraham rd. I remember running there from Loyd street in Rusholme in 12 minutes every morning, climbing over the fence to cut through platt fields park made it possible.

Then a few months at John Mills catalogue Co in Reddish?

Then the co-op food mkt beneath the Pop Inn niteclub on platt lane. Then my parents emigrated to the US in 1969.

[Lisa]

No, it was Aqua-Mer Weatherwear (Harries Limited) on the corner of Derby Street and Cheetham Hill Road.

Dec 29, 2010 17:55:17 GMT -1 tommy23796181 said:

HI lisa
Was the raincoat place quelranes

[Charlie Hind (Female)]

Hi All. Great! topic Lin. Good idea
I started out working as a sales ledger clerk @ Slack & Cox Mineral factors on Hyde Road Gorton. Took my school pencil case with lol. Only stayed about 6 months. I didn't like the manager there. He & I had words I left!! After that I went to Swallow Raincoats in Salford 7. Long bus ride there and back every day but loved the job as payroll clerk/ Office Junior@17 I. stayed for 2 1/2 years. Changed direction due to more pay. Better working condition & Moved to Bentwood Brothers in Rusholme. Working in the office wages payroll Got made up to Office Supervisor Stayed 5.1/2 Got sacked after I got married. Took them to court & won ha ha. Nice pay out Then @ 22 started my life as a Licensee's wife for 12 years working for Boddingtons Brewery then Bass Charrington.
Many jobs but varied. Keep em coming
Charlie.


Read more: manmates.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=19&page=9#ixzz1E7uZBxpl

[lin]

Hi Charlie thanks for the compliment..as you will propbably have seen I never worked in M/C leaving at a young age to move down South with my mam and dad.
Good for you taking them to court, and better still for winning ;d ;d

[Lisa]

Hi Charlie, Lovely to see your photo on here and welcome to the Message Board on Manmates. Glad you are enjoying the site and we look forward to seeing you again on here. If you have any queries about the site, just ask....the folk on here are a great bunch and are always willing to help.

[Charlie Hind (Female)]

Thanks Lisa.
I have made contact with a couple of old aquantencses on here since I added myself. It's great! I am organising a reunion from where I grew up. Gorton Logsight Chorlton on Medlock Ardwick. Is there a free of charge notice board to enable me to do that on here? And if so Where and how do I go about it?
Forgot to mention on the last note. I work as a barmaid after my day job in the Grey Mare Grey Street Ardwick & also Railway Longsight. The New one

[cabbyjohn]

Feb 16, 2011 12:05:38 GMT -1 Charlie Hind (Female) said:

Hi All. Great! topic Lin. Good idea
I started out working as a sales ledger clerk @ Slack & Cox Mineral factors on Hyde Road Gorton. Took my school pencil case with lol. Only stayed about 6 months. I didn't like the manager there. He & I had words I left!! After that I went to Swallow Raincoats in Salford 7. Long bus ride there and back every day but loved the job as payroll clerk/ Office Junior@17 I. stayed for 2 1/2 years. Changed direction due to more pay. Better working condition & Moved to Bentwood Brothers in Rusholme. Working in the office wages payroll Got made up to Office Supervisor Stayed 5.1/2 Got sacked after I got married. Took them to court & won ha ha. Nice pay out Then @ 22 started my life as a Licensee's wife for 12 years working for Boddingtons Brewery then Bass Charrington.
Many jobs but varied. Keep em coming
Charlie.


Read more: manmates.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=19&page=9#ixzz1E7uZBxpl

My first job after leaving school at 15, was as an aerial riggers apprentice working for Fred Dawes on London Rd.

I was about 5 '2" inches tall and weighed about 7 stone in those days. Being so tiny, it was my job to crawl under the floors and up in lofts. So I was permanently covered in soot. I looked like one of those urchins out of D i ckensian times who they used to send up chimneys.

One day we had to go to an old mill in Ancoats to fit a radio aerial so that the female sewing machinists could listen to music whilst they worked. There were long rows of female machinists facing each other whilst they sewed. it was my job to crawl under the benches between the machinists dragging a long cable with me.

I had no sooner set off under the bench, cable in hand than one of the women shouted out, "STOP LOOKING UP MY SKIRT". Before I could protest my innocence another woman jumped up and shouted out, "He's grabbed my F****!, Soon they were all shouting out something or other and calling me a dirty little b****r. I started crying in panic, wailing that I had done nothing "Honest Missus". I refused to come out from under the bench because I thought that I was going to be lynched or worse, sent to prison.

The women quickly realised that they had perhaps gone to far and were trying to coax me out. I was determined to stay put. Forever if neccessary. Eventually they persuaded me that they were only joking and coaxed me out. (I think they layed out a trail of toffees for me. ) ;D

My face was black with soot, except for two long clean streaks down my face from where I had been crying. They were all feeling sorry for me by now, and hugging me, which scared me even more. That was my first lesson in working with a load of women. You would have never got me crawling under a workbench full of women again, not for a kings ransom!

Actors say, "Never work with animals or children. I would add to that, NEVER work in a mill full of women!!!

[mavis]

Hi Charlie,
There is a "knowhere Gorton Notice board" as well, if you type that into Google you will get it, and perhaps find more of your friends. Its a very interesting site.

Cheers

[hurdsey]

Jul 20, 2008 20:30:29 GMT -1 @ravydave said:

HI, I my first job after leaving St Willibrords clayton in 1957 was at Baxendales glass in zinc st of Rochdale Rd stayed in the same trade untill being made redundant in 1998.

Hyah Dave

Can you remember an incident opposite Baxendales on bonfire night around 1962 or 63?
Opposite the glass works was a garage, all made out of timber with a round roof, at the back of it were some lock up garages.
Anyway on bonfire night it caught fire, and some oxy-acetylene cylinders blew up, the place was completely destroyed, the back windows to our house were blown in, some other houses suffered structural damage, all the window on the front of Baxendale were also blown in. It was reported in the Chronicle that the blast rocked Collyhurst flats a quarter of a mile away!
As kids we would sneak in through the loading bay doors of Baxendales, and play in the big pile of straw that they used for packing the glass.

[hurdsey]

Jul 26, 2010 9:02:40 GMT -1 dontaylor99 said:

hi,everyone. re places of work. I started my working life at Templemans shopfitters as a trainee designer draughtsman they were situated on Cambridge street close to the junction of cavendish street the premise was an old cinema, the balcony was used by the French Polishers.

I worked at Templemans in 1971 for about 6 months (I'm a Shopfitting Joiner) Laurence was the Setter out/Draughtsman he was really old and had been there years.
I've worked at most of the Shopfitting company's around Manchester over the years.

[soloblue]

I worked as a stitcher at Sparrow Hardwick on Lena Street, Piccadilly, from 1967 - 1970 It was the best years of my life.! I wasnt a very good stitcher and dont know why they kept me, but I loved listening to the wonderful 60's music. I loved that place. I still keep in touch with a few of my mates and would love to hear from anyone who worked there. Linda

[ravydave]

Hi Hurdsey, I remember the fire and the cylinders blowing up, we had worked overtime that night and were in the Loco pub on the corner, one of the timber beams was blown across the Rd and through the factory windows, in the picture shown in the Chronicle I was standing on the loading bay. one of my jobs as a kid was to sweep all the straw together and burn it at the end of the day.

[graham]

had a few jobs in my early years but the best job i ever had was working at mac fisheries o n dea sgate and at oxford st we use to get a few stars in from the palace that was about 1960graham

[Kay]

I worked at Woolworths first then became a cadet nurse at Crumpsall Hospital , then Wiles toy shop in Piccadily , then Trafford Warehouses catalogue in Ardwick. then Ciba Geigy in Clayton. I also worked at Maison Hi Style in Fairfield Droyslden and then bought my own hairdressing shop in Mossley .

[baycityroller]

A few weeks before leaving school (Manchester Central Grammar) I got round to thinking what sort of job I would go into, there were no job advisory sessions in school in those days. I had been a member of the REME army cadet force at school and had put my name down for Sandhurst but I soon discovered the army wasn't for me after spending a fortnight with the cadet unit at Aldershot the year before! So what to do?
A mate of mine at school,Don Mcphee, had got into photography as a hobby and not long before leaving school had spent a fortnight's work experience at the Manchester Guardian (now The Guardian) and his tales of going around the area with a staff man covering all sorts of stories caught my imagination. Don went on to work full time for the Guardian after learning the trade in provincial Press. Sadly I discovered last week while trawling the internet that he died in 2007.
So inspired by Don although I knew nothing about photography I decided I'd like the life of a journalist and a fortnight before leaving school wrote to 46 national and local papers in the wider Manchester area. With absolute no experience of any kind (unless you count a paper round!) I only got a handful of replies with a couple of weekly papers saying they'd put them on their job waiting list while another, the Daily Express in Great Ancoats Street, offered me a job as a boy messenger.
I decided I'd go for this because at least it would give me a chance to get inside a newspaper environment to see what it was like.
I left school on the Friday and started work on the following Monday, no summer Sabatical for me. The first week I started at 9am for an eight-hour shift and the "sergeant" dressed in uniform and in charge of all the lads had me shown round the different departments and I was told that it would be shift work from then on, the first shift started at 8am and the last shift was 2pm to 10pm.
One of the duties on the early shift was for you and another lad to hold open the front door at precisely 10am while the other lad held the lift on the ground allowing the managing director to come straight out of his car, through the doors and straight into the lift (how the other half lived!).
On another shift you would sit on the top floor and be at the beck and call of the md's secretary while in between you'd postage frank all the letters going out of the building. I can always remember one of the jobs for her was going over the road to Yates Wine Lodge to get a beef butty for her (the sarnies were delicious!).Is Yates' still there?
Other jobs including cleaning out all the empty glue pots for the sub-editors and reporters (it was all typed or written on paper in this days) but the best job of all was on the late shift where you're main task was to make cups of tea for all the journalists working there. I'd buy all the tea, sugar and milk, brew up in a big urn and charge them a penny a cup and I'd double my wages that week!
I don't remember many of the lads I worked with, just one called Spud Murphy and another whose name I forget but I met him a year later when he was working on the docks and making good money.
After five months at the Daily Express I suddenly got a letter from the Salford City Reporter offering me a job as a cub reporter and I was on my way....but I did return as a sub-editor on the Express 7 years later but only worked there for a year or so before moving on to the Daily Telegraph in Withy Grove.

[jackaitch]

Arh arh we have a journalist as a member,,enjoyed the accounting of your youth and work related
experiences..

Next episode please!!!!!

[robin]

I left St Agnes school on Friday 1951 started work on the Monday on sevenpence three farthing per hour 44 hours a week (Sat. morning) at B French Ltd Electrical Engineers just off Piccadilly. In summer we worked in Lewis,s Store in the Sub Basement on various contracts and in Winter I worked at Ringway (Manchester ) Airport installling new runway and approach lighting etc...VERY cold. In 1954 called up and I joined the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm for 7 years. 1970 came to Australia a great move...Robin...